August 25/13 10:18 am - Fort Follies Women's GP, Kirchmann 3rd

Posted by Editoress on 08/25/13

Lauren Hall Wins Fort Follies GP, Team Sweeps Jersey Classification

Leah Kirchmann Third in Field Sprint in Downtown Fort Collins, CO

Lauren Hall and her Optum Pro Cycling presented by Kelly Benefit Strategies teammates put on a dominant display in downtown Fort Collins Saturday, winning the field sprint and claiming all three pro jersey classifications at the inaugural Fort Follies GP.

The 5-woman team attacked the race from the gun, claiming nearly every prime available on the 1 mile downtown Fort Collins course on their way to the top step of the podium. Brianna Walle claimed the Most Aggressive Rider jersey for her work at the front of affairs, keeping any would-be breakaways in check to preserve the opportunity for Hall in the field sprint. Hall claimed the sprinter's classification prize along with her win at the sixty minute race, and Leah Kirchmann won the best young rider classification.

"The leadout train was great today - Leah and Jade really dialed things in at Elk Grove and I trust them with everything coming out of the last corner," said Hall. "Leah pulled through to the front of the race and started sprinting right after the last corner, and she led me all the way to the finish. I looked back twice at 250 and 100 meters to go, and we had a really good gap, so I knew we wouldn't get caught."

The win will be the last on American soil for the Orange and Black women – they depart Monday for León, Spain, joining teammates Joelle Numainville, Janel Holcomb, and Denise Ramsden for a racing campaign in France and Italy culminating in the Team Time Trial World Championships in Tuscany, Italy on September 22nd.

"The win here is a good confidence booster going into such big campaign in Europe," added Hall. "Any chance to work on the leadout and have it be successful is always a good thing. All of us are very excited to get to Europe and start building form for the World Championship." Optum Pro Cycling press release